
Originally Posted by
Woodduck
Wagner was an intense, flawed, brilliant, driven human being who created multi-faceted works, pregnant with symbolism, that express a wide spectrum of human experience and motivation. People can read his works selectively and find a variety of meanings in them, both overt and implicit. The idea that these works have "convinced" anyone to "do bad things" is one you're going to have to give better evidence of than you have so far. I feel safe in saying that any scoundrel who happens to enjoy Wagner is going to be a scoundrel with or without him. An accurate understanding of his works undermines any notion of the will to power, and this is readily apparent even at a superficial reading of them. Long before Parsifal assumes the responsibilities of manhood, the love of Elisabeth for Tannhauser rebukes the cruelty of the Pope, Hans Sachs undercuts hypocrisy and selfishness and reconciles passion with social responsibility, greed and envy bring destruction, and the power of the gods goes up in flames.
There is real nobility to be found in Wagner's stories, a searching idealism, and a sympathy for all flawed human creatures, even his villains. His works tackle in the most earnest way themes of love, loyalty, betrayal, death, and the search for redemption. I don't think any other opera composer approaches him in seriousness of purpose or depth of thought. I've known his operas for over 50 years and cannot imagine being "convinced to do bad things" by any of them. The idea that experiencing the agony and ecstasy of Tristan and isolde would encourage impressionable folk to run around cheating on their spouses is really quite comical. I should think it would make them all the more grateful for Opie, Aunt Bee, and their white picket fence in Mayberry.